King James Version

Psalm 1

Psalm 1 is the opening psalm of the Bible's book of Psalms, and it sets out two ways to live. The blessed man avoids the counsel of the ungodly and delights in the law of the LORD, so he is like a fruitful tree planted by the rivers of water, while the ungodly are "like the chaff which the wind driveth away."

Take the quiz

Psalm 1 (KJV)

Blessed is the man v. 1-2

¹Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

A tree planted by the rivers of water v. 3

³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are like the chaff v. 4-5

⁴The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

⁵Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Two ways, two ends v. 6

⁶For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What Psalm 1 means

Verse 1 describes the blessed man first by what he avoids, and the verbs slow down as they go: he walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Walking, then standing, then sitting is a picture of how a person can drift step by step from listening to bad advice into settling among mockers.

Verse 2 gives the positive side. "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." The law here means God's instruction, and the Hebrew word for meditate is often explained as turning it over and speaking it quietly to oneself, not just reading it once.

Verse 3 shows the result. Such a person is like a tree planted by the rivers of water: rooted, fed, bearing fruit in its season, with a leaf that does not wither. The word planted suggests someone put it there on purpose.

Verses 4-5 give the contrast in one sharp word: "The ungodly are not so." They are like chaff, the light husks blown away when grain is winnowed. They have no weight and no root, and they shall not stand in the judgment.

Verse 6 sums it up. The LORD knoweth the way of the righteous, which means he watches over it and cares for it, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. The whole book of Psalms opens with this choice between two ways.

Background and context

Psalm 1 has no title in the KJV, so its writer is not named. It is traditionally seen as an introduction to the whole book of Psalms, chosen to stand at the door of the collection.

It is a wisdom psalm, close in style to Proverbs. Psalm 1 begins with the word Blessed, and Psalm 2 closes with a blessing (Blessed are all they that put their trust in him), so many readers treat the two as a pair framing the start of the book.

Key verses

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm 1:1 · KJV

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 1:2 · KJV

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm 1:3 · KJV

Cross references

Jeremiah 17:7-8 The man who trusts in the LORD is like a tree planted by the waters.Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Joshua 1:8 God tells Joshua to meditate in the book of the law day and night.This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Psalm 119:97 "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Matthew 3:12 John the Baptist on the wheat gathered and the chaff burned.Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus on the broad way and the narrow way.Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Psalm 2:12 Psalm 2 ends with a blessing on all who trust in the Son.Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Quick quiz

How well do you know Psalm 1?

7 questions, every answer checked against the King James text. Play it here, then try a full book quiz.

Want more? Play the full Psalms Bible quiz.

Common questions

What is the main message of Psalm 1?

That there are two ways to live. The one who delights in God's word grows strong and fruitful like a well-watered tree, while the ungodly are like chaff that blows away.

Who wrote Psalm 1?

The Bible does not say. Psalm 1 has no title. It is traditionally treated as the introduction to the whole book of Psalms.

What does chaff mean in Psalm 1?

Chaff is the dry husk around grain. When farmers tossed threshed grain into the wind, the heavy grain fell and the chaff blew away, a picture of a life with no weight.

What does it mean to meditate on God's law day and night?

To keep God's word in mind through the day, thinking it over and saying it quietly to oneself, not just reading it once. Joshua 1:8 gives the same instruction.